Mr Mayor's Diary
Wednesday 1 February
We attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Eccles and District History Society at the Bridgewater Room, Eccles Parish Church. We had a wonderful time here talking about Eccles how it was years ago. The entertainment, provided by two lads from the White Lion Folk Club in Swinton, was excellent. Many thanks to every one for making us feel so welcome.
Thursday 2 February
We attended the National Holocaust Memorial Day event in The Compass Room at The Lowry, Salford Quays. There were many school children in attendance from high schools across the city. it was very moving listening to the experiences of what the Jewish People went through, there wasn't a dry eye in the place at the end of it all. Later in the afternoon we attended the opening of Ordsall Neighborhood Office, Robert Hall Street, Ordsall. We had a good time here and many thanks to everyone for making us feel so welcome.
Friday 3 February
Sadly, today we attended the funeral of the late Councillor Joe Holt, former Mayor and a respected colleague. The funeral was very well attended and Joe will be much missed by councillors, family and friends. Later in the evening we visited the St John Ambulance Group Meeting at Salford Methodist Church, Fitzwarren Street, Salford. This was very interesting and we had a demonstration of the training given to the Beavers and then the work the more senior members do. At the end of the night we watched a real life experience of how the brigade would react in crisis. Many thanks to everyone for an very interesting evening.
Sunday 5 February
We attended the Salford Reds v Swinton Lions Rugby friendly at The Willows, Salford. It's good to see local teams playing against each other.
Monday 6 February
We hosted a welcome lunch in the Mayors Parlour for visitors from St. Ouen, one of Salfords twin towns from France, the guests were also welcomed by Councillor Derek Antrobus, Lead Member for Town Twinning. It was good to see the Lady Mayor of St. Ouen and the other visitors again, we met them in St. Ouen last November on a similar visit. Later in the evening I attended The Eccles Rotary Charter Dinner at Hemsley House, The Crescent, Salford. Many thanks to everyone for the welcome I received.
Tuesday 7 February
We attended the international Friendship Award Ceremony at Ordsall Hall, Salford. This was to honour Denise Audouard, President of the St.Ouen Town Twinning Committee, for all the work she has done to keep the links between our two cties going. Tributes were made by myself, Councillor Derek Antrobus, Lead member for Town Twinning, and Steve Fletcher, Chairman of the St Ouen Town Twinning Association. I then presented Denise with a medal and a certificate in recognition of the work she has done over the last 40 years.
Wednesday 8 February
In the afternoon we met the visitors from St Ouen at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery just to say goodbye before they left for home and to wish them a safe journey. Later in the evening we attended a production of "Ernie's Incredible Illuminations" and "Totally Over You" at The Bridgewater School, Worsley. These two performances were fantastic, you could see that these students were very talented and who knows, there could very well be some future television stars amongst them. Many thanks for a wonderful evening.
Thursday 9 February
We visited Marjorie McNamee on the occasion of her 100th birthday at Hope Manor Nursing Home, Eccles Old Road, Salford. We had a chat with Marjorie and her family and friends, she looks very well for 100 years old. Later in the evening we attended the Manchester Muslim Funeral Committee fund raising event at the Nawaab Restaurant, Stockport Road, Levenshulme. Also in attendance was Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Education and Sir Gerald Kaufman, MP for Gorton. The Muslim funeral committee have recently purchased a plot of land in Woodland Cemetery, Worsley, for the purpose of muslim burials and the aim of the evening was to raise money for this. I understand that this the first organization of this nature to be registered as a charity and I am sure that everyone on the committee is proud of this fact.
Friday 10 February
We attended a charity evening in aid of The Mayors Charity Appeal, at Irlam Catholic Club, Liverpool Road, Irlam. Cadishead Band provided the entertainment and a good night was had by all. A substantial amount of money was raised for the Mayors Charity Appeal for which I am very grateful. Many thanks to Councillor Christine Hudson for organizing everything and also thanks to the band for their services.
Saturday 11 February
We attended the 40th Anniversary celebration of Walkden Library at the Library on Memorial Road, Walkden along with Councillor Barry Warner, Lead Member for Culture and Sport and his Executive Support Member, Councillor Stan Witkowski. We had the honour of cutting the cake (The last time we both cut a cake was 30 years ago, I can't remember what for) to celebrate the occasion. Sarah Walters best selling author of Fingersmith, Affinity and Tipping the Velvet was there to promote her latest book the Night Watch. Many thanks for making us feel so welcome.
Tuesday 14 Februay
We met with representatives from the Merchant Navy Association in the Mayors Parlour. We had a very interesting discussion about the Merchant Navy and the work that some of these lads did when they were at sea and how they felt that they were not recognized in the same way that the Army, Navy and RAF were. The meeting finished when proposals were put to them that on 3rd September each year they would be honored in Salford by a commemorative service.
Wednesday 15 February
We hosted a reception in the Mayors Parlour for the Mayors Citizen Award winner for February, Mr Steven Farrow. Mr Farrow was nominated by Councillor Iain Lindley, who paid tribute to the work that Mr Farrow had done for the community in Walkden. Tributes were also made by Councillor Bernard Pennington, Councillor Iain Macdonald and Councillor Norman Owen. This was followed by the monthly meeting of the Council.
Friday 17 February
We attended the opening of Emerson House in Eccles, the new headquarters of Urban Vision. Ian Stewart, MP for Eccles, local Councillors and Councillors who serve on the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel were also there. Urban Vision, formerly We were taken around the building and shown the various offices that had moved from the Civic Centre and how different it was working in this environment. We also went into meet the staff from the Salford West Adult/Older People Social Work Team, who had also moved into Emerson House earlier in 2005, some of whom we had a chat with.
Saturday 18 February
We attended a church service at St Teresa's Church, Liverpool Road, Irlam, to celebrate the 90th birthday of Paddy Curly. Paddy was a friend of my late father so it was an honour for us to attend. Good luck Paddy. Later in the evening we hosted The Charity Masquerade Ball at the Lowry Hotel, Salford. This was a fantastic evening which was very successful in raising funds for my 3 charities. There was a great night of entertainment from Elvis, followed by a disco. May I take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making this evening a great success.
Sunday 19 February
We attended the Accrington Pals Memorial Service at St John the Evangelist Church, Accrington. Mayors from all over the North West of England attended. Representatives from the British Legion, the Army and the Cadets, it was very moving and a respected and fitting tribute to all of the Accrington Pals who went out in the first world war and never returned.
Tuesday 21 February
We attended a Citizenship Ceremony at Salford Civic Centre, Swinton. This month 24 people received the honour of becoming British Citizens. After the ceremony everybody joined us in The Mayor's Parlour for a drink and a chat.
Wednesday 22 February
We were invited to a presentation of certificates to staff from the Community, Health and Social Care Directorate at Buile Hill Banqueting Suite. There were some 80 members of staff receiving NVQ certificates ranging from Level 2 to level 5. It was great to see so many achieving these standards and some of the staff tell me they intend to go further. Congratulations to every one who received a certificate and good luck for the future. Later in the evening we attended the St Luke's Art and Drama Society performance of Sleeping Beauty at St Lukes Parish Hall, Derby Road, Salford. This was a really good night, the children that were in the audience were in high spirits, cheering on the actors all evening. Many thanks for the welcome you gave us.
Thursday 23 February
Today we attended a Mayoral Briefing in the Mayors Parlour with the Mayor and Mayoress Elect, the Deputy Mayor Elect, Councillor Eric Burgoyne, Samantha Tindale and staff from the Members Services Unit. This was to go through the procedures for the next Mayor and Mayoress who will be taking over in May, this is near the end of the road for us.
Friday 24 February
We attended the opening of a Community Room refurbished by young people from the Prince's Trust at the CVS Office in Eccles Town Hall. What a fantastic job they have made with this refurbishment and what a great group of young people they were. Many thanks for the warm welcome you gave us and keep up the good work.
Saturday 25 February
We visited land reclaimed by Parkfield Residents Association near Linksway, Swinton. It is always good to see local Councillors and the community working together to achieve what has happened here. After I cut the ribbon to open the site we walked around the area, with the chairman Mr Joe O'Neil, to witness the unveiling of a plaque in remembrance of the late Councillor Dougie Daniels, by his wife Alma. We left here to attend the Catholic Women's League Centenary Mass at Salford Cathedral, Chapel Street. The Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Salford Terence Brain and refreshments were provided by the women in the cloisters after Mass. Many thanks for the warm welcome everyone gave us and the laughs we had.
Sunday 26 February
We attended "Mohan Shahid Dibos" Language Movement Day, held by the Bangladesh Medical Society at the United Reform Church, Worsley Road, Swinton. Following the partition of India and the formation of Pakistan there were two languages - Urdo in West Pakistan and Bengali in East Pakistan. On 21st February 1952 students in East Pakistan protested and took to the streets in a protest march. This resulted in several students being killed by police/army. Language Movement Day is to commemorate what happened there and was also the beginning of the road to separation between Pakistan and the eventual formation of Bangladesh. We had a good time here and many thanks for the welcome that was given to us. Later in the evening we attended a Music Showcase performed by Greater Manchester Music Action Zone (GMMAZ) at the Bridgewater Hall Manchester. This was a great night, GMMAZ is one of 24 Youth Action Zones in England and Wales funded by Youth Music, providing music-making activities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity. It is also an exciting spectacle at a prestigious city centre venue for young people from across the boroughs of Greater Manchester to attend and explore the opportunities that exist in participatory music making activity. There must have been a lot of proud parents there that night. I know, because on our way out after the performance we were talking to the mother of two of the girls who took part in it who told us how proud she was of them. Well done to everyone.
Tuesday 28 February
We met with Danyel Massacrier in the Mayor's Parlour. Danyel is a visitor from Clermont Ferrand, one of Salford's Twin Towns. He was here taking photographs for the Photographic Exhibition which will be taking place in Salford and Clermont Ferrand to celebrate the 40th Anniversry of the Twinning of the two cities. Councilor Derek Antrobus, Lead Member for Town Twinning, Councillor John Warmisham and Councillor Stan Witkowski, members of the Clermont Ferrand Committee and Sandra and Stephanie, who are also from Clermont Ferrand and currently working in the Members Service's Office were also there. It was an interesting meeting and a good opportunity we all had a chat about Clermont Ferrand and how links could be made better between us.
This page was last updated on 4 October 2009
